Strongly Do Not Recommend This Company…read more
I had a very disappointing experience with A1 Plumbing. When I made the appointment, I clearly explained that my toilet had two problems: the tank kept continuously filling with water, and water was leaking around the base, likely requiring a new wax ring. I was told the price would depend on labor and parts, but no exact estimate was provided.
When the plumber arrived, I went downstairs to meet him because I live in an apartment building. I was surprised that he was carrying only an iPad and did not have any tools with him at all. He came upstairs, inspected the toilet, and took pictures before going back downstairs to get his tools. To make things easier, I gave him a FOB key to access the building.
He later said the space around my toilet was very small and that he needed additional tools, so he called another employee to help. Together, they went back and forth between my apartment and downstairs approximately 8-10 times. Each time, they brought back only a few tools instead of bringing everything they needed at once. Since I live in an apartment, all these trips required taking the elevator. Nearly two hours were spent on the job, and a significant amount of time seemed to be wasted going back and forth.
I paid $280 for labor plus $20 for parts, totaling $300. The plumber told me the job had been difficult and that he had worked very hard. Feeling bad for him, I gave him an additional $30 tip, bringing my total payment to more than $330.
However, I then discovered that the toilet tank was still continuously filling with water. Only one of the two problems I had explained before the appointment had been addressed. When I pointed this out, the plumber said he would need to return the following week, take the toilet apart again, purchase another part, and charge me for additional labor, including the time spent getting the part. I was extremely frustrated because both problems had been explained in advance. I could not understand why the second problem had not been addressed before he left.
To be fair, the plumber was very nice and polite. My complaint is not about his attitude, but about the lack of preparation, organization, and efficiency.
Later that afternoon, I contacted another plumber recommended by a friend. Before arriving, he asked me for a picture of my toilet's brand and model and an explanation of the problems. He purchased the necessary replacement part beforehand and arrived carrying all his tools. He worked for approximately one and a half hours, never once went downstairs for tools, and fixed both problems in one visit. His labor charge was only $120, and the replacement part cost approximately $30, bringing the total to about $150.
The difference was remarkable. A1 Plumbing charged me more than $330, yet one problem remained unresolved. The second plumber charged about $150 and completed both repairs. A few years ago, another plumber also replaced the wax ring in my mother's toilet for only $150, including parts.
The second plumber also told me that if repairing a toilet required that much time and money, he would strongly recommend replacing the entire toilet instead. In my situation, spending over $450 to repair a toilet worth only about $200 simply would not make sense.
I expected a professional plumbing company to arrive prepared, especially when both problems had already been explained. Instead, I experienced repeated unnecessary trips, wasted time, a high bill, and an incomplete repair.
I strongly do not recommend A1 Plumbing. Based on my experience, I would choose a better-prepared and more efficient plumber rather than pay more for an unfinished job.
